Appleby hadn't ventured further than the market in a long time. Even shopping for food caused him a great deal of anxiety. He felt tiny amidst crowds, surrounded by judging stares. But after the carnage in the hallway, the fur, broken furniture, blood, and smashed ornaments, he had to act. Bunny was gone, taken by two scoundrels. A maharaja's son and his crony. Werewolves.

He couldn't hide away. The time had come to dig deep for confidence and courage. On the hook by the door, he found his moth-eaten coat and left the house. He slunk through the dark. The city was chaotic with nighttime carousers, and a confusion of voices and laughter came at him from every direction.

Keep walking.

He turned his focus to the address on the card Bunny had given him. This fellow, Penderry, seemed like his only option if he wanted to see his niece again. When he reached Jermyn Street, he called at the young man's home. Penderry's eyes widened in surprise when he saw Appleby, but politeness prevailed and he invited him in to the sitting-room.

"What brings you here at this late hour, sir?" asked Jim.

Appleby leaned on his walking cane and paced the floor by the fireplace. "She's gone."

"Who, sir?"

"Berenice. Bunny. My niece. And her servant, too. They're gone."

Penderry blinked, concern filling his face. "What do you mean gone?"

"Taken. Kidnapped by werewolves. I didn't know who else to turn to for help. I would go to the police, but I'm certain they won't believe me. You can help, can't you? She gave me this." He fished out the creased business card.

Penderry peered at the card, then at Appleby. "Of course I'll help. Please sit and calm yourself, sir, before you wear a hole in the carpet."

"Oh, right, yes." Appleby inhaled deeply and lowered his rump into an armchair. "Bunny told me you saved her life."

"In Hyde Park. I heard gunfire and came across Miss Spencer, and the werewolf."

"I'm indebted to you, young man."

He waved the notion away, his eyebrows migrating towards the bridge of his nose. "No, not at all. Please tell me exactly what happened."

Appleby rubbed his unshaven chin, his pulse quickening. "Horrible. It was horrible."

The boy swallowed and offered Appleby a cup of tea or a sherry for his nerves.

"No, no." Appleby took control of his anxiety. "The beast in Hyde Park was not an isolated incident. I received word from my brother's regiment earlier this week. Werewolves attacked their camp. At first, I didn't understand why any of this was happening. But now I do. It's all because of that servant. The werewolves came for her. She's one of them."

"Wait. Are you talking about Anju?"

"Yes. She's a werewolf. I saw it with my own eyes. She changed right in front of me." The memory caused his hands to tremble.

"Was Miss Spencer aware?"

He shook his head. "She seemed just as horrified as me. What can we do? They took her. Right from under my nose. My brother made a terrible mistake sending her to me. I can't protect anyone. I'm just a useless old man."

Penderry leaned forward, a serious gleam in his eyes. "Mr Spencer, if we're to find them, I must know as much as possible about the abductors. Did you get a good look at them? Could you describe them?"

"Better than that. They introduced themselves. Idiots. An Indian prince and his henchman. He said he'd come for Anju. Called her his bride."

"A prince?"

"Yes, said his name was Prince Sujit Singh, or something of the like."

Penderry's expression fell flat. "Sujit Singh?"

"You've heard of him?"

The colour drained from the young man's face. "I hate to admit it, but I think I may have led him straight to your house."

***

The moonlit deck rocked as the ship cut through the cold English Channel. Bunny shivered, longing for a cloak, and for her hands to be untied. She and Anju sat on the damp floor, backs against the iron wall of the steamship.

"Anju, what's going on?" It was her first opportunity to speak without the prince or Gupta present.

Her friend lifted her head, shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you about any of this. It's a heavy secret I've carried all these years."

"You're a werewolf, Anju. You didn't think it worth telling me? Especially after everything that's happened?"

"I wanted to tell you, but before seeing it for yourself you would have laughed and thought it a joke. Or been too terrified to speak. You were so afraid of what you saw in the park, you called it a monster. I didn't want you to fear me, too."

Bunny reached forward with her bound wrists and took Anju's hand. "I could never fear you, Anju. There is no one with a gentler heart. It was you that night, wasn't it? When those ruffians attacked me, you scared them away and saw me safely back to the house."

Anju smiled weakly. "I woke and found your note. When you didn't return by sunset I was worried."

Bunny managed to smile in return. Anju had always looked after her. But Bunny's mind still swam with questions. "How do you know these men?"

Anju's smile faded. "It was a long time ago, before I came to live with you." She fiddled with the hem of her scarf, twisting the fabric. "I was nine years old when a stranger came to my village with his son, Sujit. They sought out my family and revealed that they could shapeshift like us. Part human, part wolf. I'd never encountered another child like me. Sujit was the first and last."

"The prince?"

"Yes, but his father hid the truth about their royalty. Until now, I had no idea." She shook her head in disbelief. "Had my parents known, perhaps they would not have refused the stranger's offer."

"What offer?"

"He said he'd consulted astrologers and claimed the stars had chosen me to be his son's match."

"An offer of engagement?"

"Yes, to mark a bond between our families. But I was so young, Bunny. When my parents told me the arrangement meant I would eventually have to leave my home and family, I was afraid. I cried and begged them not to accept."

"That's understandable."

Anju stared at the twisted scarf between her fingers. "My parents were big-hearted. They turned the stranger down. What followed, they could not have predicted. He punished us by bringing destruction to the innocent humans of our village. Many people were lost that day, including my family. He would have taken me had the British army not arrived and forced him and his pack to retreat."

Heart filling with sadness, Bunny covered Anju's hands with her own, stilling them. "I'm so sorry, Anju."

"My grandmother placed me in Captain Spencer's arms. She revealed our secret and told him everything. With her last breath, she begged him to keep me safe. He took a big risk taking me into his home. I owe your father my life."

Waves churned behind them, filling the silence. The revelation was a lot to take in, and Bunny let out a long breath. "Papa knew of this?"

"Yes, and he suspected the pack was close to discovering me. Someone sighted a werewolf near the cantonment. That's why he sent us away to England. He suspected the camp would come under attack. He wanted to keep you safe."

"I wish I'd known all this before." She squeezed her friend's hand reassuringly. "But don't worry. We will escape. You can't marry this man."

"Believe me, I want nothing to do with him after his father's actions. But we are in the hands of powerful people, we must be careful. If we do as the prince says, everything will be well. I'm sure he'll let you go."

"Do as he says? You must be joking. We're getting off this ship as soon as we can."

Footsteps sounded from the stairwell and Anju grabbed her arm. "Please, Bunny. These werewolves are ruthless. We have to co-operate with them. For now, at least."

Bunny met her pleading eyes. Every fibre of her being told her to fight their captors, but perhaps Anju had a better plan. "Very well. I'll play along. For now."

Moments later, Singh came up on deck and extended a hand to Anju. He helped her to her feet. "Anju. Your cabin is ready, and I have arranged fresh clothes."

Still dressed in rags, she allowed him to escort her to the companionway.

"It's a long voyage," he told her. "We'll have plenty of time to become better acquainted. Promise me you won't jump overboard?"

She gave a small nod.

He smiled. "Good. If your friend can make the same promise, I'll untie her hands. But only if she gives her word not to cause trouble."

Anju glanced her way, and Bunny tightened her lips. Who did he think he was, abducting them?

Anju turned her nervous gaze to Singh. "She will promise. After all, we are in the middle of the sea, there is nowhere to run."

Satisfied with her answer, he motioned to Gupta. The henchman came over to untie Bunny's hands. She stared at his shoulder, supported by the sling, and imagined putting him in an armlock, the way her father had taught her. But Anju was right. There was no escape. Not yet, anyway.

"This way," said Singh. He gestured to the steps leading below deck.

"What about Bunny?" asked Anju.

"She will be taken care of, don't worry." He cupped her chin and drew her attention back to him. "And you, Anju, will be treated like a princess. Come. You must be tired."

Reluctantly, Anju went below, casting one last worried glance at Bunny.

Gupta ordered her to her feet, and they followed to the steps. In the lantern-lit passage below, Anju and Singh were nowhere to be seen. They passed several passenger cabins, and she wondered if one of them belonged to Anju. At the far end, Gupta stopped short of another stairwell and opened a door. He ushered her inside a small cabin. Beneath a porthole, a narrow bunk protruded from the wall, and a pile of folded clothing sat on the bed.

"Tomorrow you will help with the duties," he said.

Before she could protest, he left, shutting the door. She sat on the bed, surrounded by silence. Slowly, her ears adjusted to the sound of the ocean. Outside, waves roiled, and the cabin leaned back and forth. How had she ended up in this mess? Her father was gone, she had no home, and now her very survival was in question. She remembered Pikoo, left behind. Would her uncle care for him? Was Appleby even alright? Gupta had struck him hard.

Her eyes stung, and she inhaled a calming breath before grabbing the clothing. A loose fitting tunic and matching trousers. With a deep sigh, she dropped her arms.

Play along. For Anju's sake.